Inflatable Chimney Flue Blocker With Vented Sleeve Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing inflatable devices for blocking chimney flues or ducts face challenges in reliably and economically securing the elastic strip and sealing the inflation tube, leading to assembly difficulties.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable device featuring a plastics bag with an inflation tube that opens into a tubular member of flexible plastics material, which is sealed at both ends to the bag wall and vented via apertures, allowing for controlled distension and improved assembly efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elastic strip is secured within the bag with one end in the mouth of the inflation tube and the other end attached to the wall of the bag, then positive pressure is maintained within the bag, but the assembly becomes difficult and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic strip is extracted from the bag interior and replaced by a tubular member that is vented into the bag. This eliminates the need to secure the elastic strip within the bag, removing the complex sealing operations at the tube mouth and opposite wall while maintaining the pressure-maintaining function through the vented tubular structure
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular member acts as an intermediary between the inflation tube and the bag interior. Instead of directly securing an elastic strip within the bag, the tubular member is sealed to the bag wall and vented into the bag, serving as a mediator that simplifies the assembly while achieving the same functional outcome of maintaining positive pressure
2Reliability
If the inflation tube is sealed through the wall of the bag, then inflation is contained, but the sealing becomes difficult and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into two separate locations: one seal at the end of the tubular member and another seal at the inflation tube opening. This divides the complex single sealing operation through the bag wall into simpler, more reliable separate sealing points that are easier to manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular member serves as an intermediary structure that simplifies the sealing arrangement. By sealing the tubular member to the bag wall and having the inflation tube open into it, the system achieves contained inflation through simpler, more reliable sealing operations at defined locations rather than complex sealing through the bag wall
3Reliability
If the bag is inflated to block the duct, then effective blocking is achieved, but uncontrolled longitudinal distension occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular member is pre-sealed at both ends to the bag wall before inflation occurs. This preliminary sealing action defines the longitudinal boundaries of the inflated region, preventing uncontrolled distension while allowing the bag to inflate effectively for blocking the duct
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the reliability and economy of assembly while providing effective blocking with controlled ventilation, ensuring efficient sealing and pressure distribution against the duct surface.
Implementation Method 1
a tubular member of flexible plastics material within the bag, and wherein the tubular member is vented into the bag and is sealed at each of its ends to the wall of the bag so as to limit distension of the inflated bag longitudinally of the tubular member
Implementation Method 2
An inflatable device in the form of a plastics bag having an inflation tube for use in inflating the bag to block a chimney flue or other duct
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable device for blocking a chimney flue or other duct is in the form of a plastics bag 1 having an inflation tube 2 that opens through the wall of the bag 1 into a flexible, tubular sleeve 4 that is sealed circumferentially to the bag-wall at each of its opposite ends 5,6 within the bag 1. The sleeve 4 is vented into the bag 1 via diametrically-opposed apertures 7 mid-way between its ends 5,6 so that on inflation of the bag 1 the sleeve 4 limits distention of the bag 1 longitudinally of the sleeve 4 to a flatish form. The bag 1 is constructed of two plastics sheets 8,9 that are sealed together in a peripheral rim 10 with the two ends 5,6 of the sleeve 4 sealed centrally to the two sheets 8,9 respectively, and with an open end of the inflation tube 2 sealed through the bag-wall centrally within one end 5 of the sleeve 4. The rim 10 of the bag 1 is bowed inwardly to allow for limited ventilation of the otherwise-blocked chimney flue or duct.